Convertible plate or cover for electrical receptacles



J. F. SONTGERATHE AND R. KAL-E. CONVERTIBLE PLATE OR'COVER FOR ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLES.

' APFL'ICATION FILED 1mg. 18, 1921. l,399,899 latenfedDec. 13, 1921 1 UNITED STATE 5 PArENr OFFICE.

JosEEH F. soNTGEEA'rHE Am) EAYMonE KALE, OF CHERRYVAEE, KANSAS,

f coNvEE'rIBLE PLATE o oovER Eon ELECTRICAL EEcErrAcLEs.

I To all it may concern Be it known that we, JosErH F. SoNTeE- RATHE and RAYMOND KALE, citizens of the United States, residing at Gherryvale, in'the county of Montgomery and State of Kansas,-

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Convertible Plate or Cover for-Electrical Receptacles, of-which the fol:

lowing is aspecification.

' Our invention relates to aconvertible face plate orlcover for electrical receptacles. 1

As is well known, the plate or cover for electrical receptacles frequently carries a 'numberfof,"s uch as two or more, push buttons, inserts, pilot lights, .or combination;

thereof. The trouble heretofore experienced in connection withthese plates is that a plate must be purposely designed, for the particu: lar combination ofq'elementswith which it is associated. Attempts have heretofore been I madetoovercome the difiiculty, by manufac- 7 turi'ng these plates, in the various desired sure plate being-specifically constructed for.

combinations, but imposes the necessity:

of the dealer carrying'a large num r of different types of plates, to meetthe several conditions,'which may'arisei N W, We have c'onceived'of means whereby I one plate, n1ay be'constructed with any suitable' number of openings, for the recept on of interchangeable closure plates, eachv clo- J the-1, 'articularwork. .One: closure plate is "prov ded with a pair of openings to recelve v the usual pair-of push buttons, while another "closure plate .'may be provided with a swing.

i g cap, so thata screw plugor insert may be'used by opening the 'cap. By'this means the dealer, may carry arelatively small stock of;the main plates, and at a relatively low cost, a large number of the. insert plates, and, roperly. combine them with the main vplates, to meet tlievarious conditions.

An importantobject of the invention is-to provide; a device of the above mentioned character,- which is -characterized by extreme simplicity and cheapness, and which is neat 'and' attractive in appearance.-

- Other objects and advantages of the invention will'be apparent in thecourse of'the following description. 4 a In the accompanying drawings-forming a part of this specification and in'which like numerals are employed toj.;designate like parts. throughout the same 6, as shown. 'vlded [at its upper .and lower edges with open ngs 12, preferably semi-circular for f Specification of Letters Batent. Pate t d D 13 1921 Application filed January 18, 1921. S eria1 No. 438,184.

Fig. 3'is' a horizontal section taken on line of Fig. 1, and

" Fig. 4: is a similar View showing a slightly different form of the device.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose. of. llustratlon are shown preferred embodi s ments of our invention, the numeral 5 design-ates a faceplate of an outlet box, illus- 'trated as rectangular, whileit may be of any desired shape. This, plate has aphirahty of ope'ningsfi formed therein. We have shown two of these openings for the purpose of illustration, but the number may be increased,- as 'may be found advanta geous. The opemngs are also shown elliptical, for.- the purpose of illustration, and the walls of these openings may be beveled, shown at'7. a

The numerals 8 and 9 designate closure. u

plates,'preferably elliptical, and adapted to fit snuglywlthin the openings 6, and-.havlng beveled edges 10, so that the closure plates will be supported 'with their outer faces flush with the'outer-face of the face plate 5. In Fig. 4, the edges of the closure plates 8 and 9,, are at right angles tothe outer face thereof, and the same is true of the walls T'of the openings 6 and to pre vent the closure plates from moving in-' wardlybeyond the desired point, lugs 11 are formed upon the rear or the face plate 5, and project inwardly past the openings Each closure plate is proco-action with semi-circular contacts 13,

formed in the face plate 5; These openings receive screws 14 or .the like, the heads of which are preferably flush with the outer surface of the face plate. These screws may engage suitable elements in the switch, or receptacle, or bolts, may be employed, carrying nuts.

The'plate 8 is shown as equipped .with (2) openings 15, receiving push buttons 16, while theclosureplate 9 has a large opening 17, receivin a cap '18, hinged at 19. This'cap is emp oyed when a'screw plug,

insert, pilot light orthe like is connected with the switch unit beneath. the closure plate 9. It is obvious that the closure plates '8 and 9- can bereadily interchanged, and

I openings is to' beg'ta'ken as a preferred example offthe same, and that various changes in the-shape, 10

that other closure plates, having different therewith.

It is-to be understood that the "form of our invention herewith shown and described size, and arrangements of parts may be re-' sorted to without departing from the spirit for the scope; .of the subs device of the character described comprising a face plate 'foran outlet box having a plurality of like main openings,

closure plates detachably mounted within,

Said openings and being interchangeable with each-other, said closure plates having their outer surfaces substantially flush wlth the outer surface of the face plate, eachclosure plate being adapted to cooperate with a 'diflerent type of electrical unit, and means for holding the closure platesand face plate in place in use.

2. A device of the character described comprising a faceplate for an outlet box having a plurality of like main openings,

closure plates detachably mounted within;

said openings whereby they may be interchanged with other closure plates, each closure plate havmg suitable opening means,

and a screw engaging the closure plate and serving to hold' the same within the opentherein, maybe interchanged ing' of a; "face face plate against displacement;

plate and also to holdv 3. A; .device of the character comprising a face plate for an outlet; box 40 i having a plurality of like main openings, 1

closureplates detachably" mounted within" saidopenings and being adapted to beiinuterchanged with other closure. plates, each closure plate havingopening means, each closure plate having'its outer surfacesubstantially flush with the outersurface of' ,the mainplate.

At. A device of (the character describe d comprising a face plate for an outlet box having a plurality of faceope'nings, closurei plates detachably mounted within said. openings and being adapted to be interchanged with other closure plates, each closure plate having opening means, each closure plate.

having its outer surface substantially'flush -with the outersurface of the face 'plate,,said

face plate and-closure plates having openof union, a portion of each opening being formed in the-'faceplategand t'hecomple -mentary portion of the opening being formed in the closure plate, and a screw ings formed therethrough at their points I inserted within each opening and serving 'to holdthe closure plate within the opening of the faceplate'andialso to hold the, face plate against displacement. In testimony whereof we affix our signatures. v

JOSEPH F. SONTGERATIHEQ RAYMOND KALE, 

